Power-transmitting mechanism for velocipedes



(No Model.)

H. E. BRAUNFELD. POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM FOR VELOGIPEDES.

No. 428,881. Patented May 27, 1890.

WITNESSES:

0% o@&[

I ATTORNEY.

Luna, wmunm'au u c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. BR-AUNFELD, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

POWER-TRANSMITTING MECHANISM FOR VELOCIPEDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,881, dated May 2'7,1890. Application filed February 19, 1890. Elerial No, 341,002. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. BRAUNFELD, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanism for TransmittingPower, which improvement is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings.

My invention, broadly stated, consists of mechanism for transmittingmotion or power from an axis, axle, or shaft to or near the rim of awheel which is mounted on said axis, whereby the power is mosteffectively transmitted or conveyed to said wheel.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of mechanism for transmitting powerembodying my invention, the same being shown in connection with abicycle. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of a portion thereof on anenlarged scale. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section of a portionthereof, on an enlarged scale, on line w m, Fig. 3. Fig. 4 represents apartial side elevation and partial vertical section of a detachedportion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a shaft or axle, on which isfreely mounted a wheel B. At suitable points of the rim of the wheel arefixed the arms 0, whose inner ends are secured to a winged hub or pulleyD, which latter is firmly connected with the shaft or axle A by means ofbolts E, it being noticed that-the diameter of the wheel 13 is greaterthan that of the hub D. In the present case the hub D and arms 0 arelocated within the wheel B; but to this I do not limit myself, as saidparts may be located outside of the wheel and duplicated on each sidethereof, it being also noticed that there are three arms 0, andconsequently three places of connection for the same with the hub D; butit is evident that the number of said arms may be increased.

Secured to the shaftA are pulleys F, around which pass chains G, thelatter also passing around pulleys H, which are keyed or otherwisesecured to the shaft J, Whose bearings are on the frame or arms K,connected with the fork L and guard M, said shaft J having secured to ita pulley N, around which passes a chain P,which also passes around adriving pulley or wheel Q, whose bearings are on a stirrup R, theupwardly-projecting stem S of which is screw-threaded and passes througha split sleeve T, said sleeve being connected with the upper part L ofthe fork L.

The stem S is provided with a nut U,which bears upon the upper side ofthe sleeve T, and the latter is provided with a screw or bolt V, wherebyprovision is made for raising and lowering the wheel Q and also ad-'justing the tension of the chain P on the pulley N, the screw V servingto tighten the sleeve T, and thus hold the stem S in adjusted positionand prevent rotation of said stem and consequently shifting of thedrivingpulley Q.

W designates a pin or post, having its lower end resting in a step X,secured to the part L of the fork, and its upper end fitted in a recessin the screw or bolt Y, connected with the boss Z, said boss Z and thestep X being attached to the part L of the fork, the guard M being alsoconnected with said step X, it being noticed that the step X and screw Yform the bearings for the pin W, whereby the latter may rotate forsteering purposes, it being noticed that the reach or backbone A isformed with or otherwise secured to the pin WV, said reach or backbonebeing forked, so as to clear the chain P, and connected with the rearportion of a bicycle or other vehicle, the rider being seated on thelatter, so as to operate the cranks A of the shaft of the driving-pulleyQ.

It will be seen that when the cranks A are rotated power is transmittedto the pulley Q, chain P, pulley N, pulleys H, chains G, and pulleys F,and consequently to the shaft A, from thence to the hub D, the arms 0,and finally to the periphery of the wheel, where it is most effective,the wheel, as is evident, running freely on the axle.

The ends of the arms 0 are screw-threaded, and are connected withsockets A which are pivotally attached, respectively, to the wings ofthe hub and the rim of the wheel, whereby provision is made for theadjustment of said arms and the tightening of the wheel, such adjustmentand tightening being further effected by the tangential arrangement ofsaid arms, it being evident that when the bolts E of the hub areloosened said hub may be rotated in order to move the arms 0 in theproper direction, after which the bolts are tightened and the partsretain their adjusted position.

It will be understood that the hub of the wheel moves freely around theaxle, motion being imparted to the periphery or rim of said wheelthrough the arms C, which hax e a hub fixed to the said axle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In mechanism for transmitting power, the combination of a shaft oraxle having a fixed hub and a loose wheel thereon, and means forconnecting said hub with the loose wheel at the rim or periphery of thelatter, substantially as described.

2. A hub fixed to a shaft or axle, and a wheel freely mounted on saidshaft or axle, in combination with arms which are 0011- nected with theperiphery of the hub and rim of the wheel, whereby the power of theshaft or axle is transmitted to said rim for rotating said wheel,substantially as described.

3. A shaft having a hub fixed thereto and a wheel freely mountedthereon, in combination with tangentially-arranged arms connected withsaid pulley and the rim of said wheel, substantially as described.

4. A wheel, in combination with the pulleys 1 connected with the shaftthereof, the chains G, passing around said pulleys F and the pulleys ll,said pulleys II and the pulley N being secured to the shaft J, whosebearings are on the arms K of the device, the chain P, passing aroundthe pulley N and the pulley Q, the latter being supported on the part Lof the device, the shaft of said pulley Q having crank-arms foroperating purposes, substantially as described.

5. In a device substantially as described, the driving-pulley Q, havingthe bearings of its shaft on the fork R, the latter being provided witha screw-stem S, which is fitted to the clamping-sleeve T, said stembeing provided with a nut U, and said sleeve connected with the part Lof the device, as stated.

(5. The part L of the fork L of the wheel, having a step X, a threadedboss Z, and a screw Y, fitted in said boss, and the pin \V of the reachor backbone A, having its bearings in said step and screw, substantiallyas described.

7. The Wheel having a hub and rim and arms connected to sockets whichare pivoted to said hub and rim, substantially as described.

IIENRY E. BRAUNFELI).

Witnesses:

M. F. OAssIDv,

BIEDEL.

